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qualify and this status can only be acquired by descent through the male line under current BN law. If Hong Kong are obliged to amend their ordinance to conform, I do not see that it will be likely to increase the number of persons they must 11 accept "
In any case, as I recall from an exchange of telegrams last year, the Governor said that he saw no difficulty in Hong Kong agreeing to transmission of citizenship through the female line under the permanent provisions.
6.
We are somewhat puzzled as to the meaning of people who "might otherwise become stateless" (at the end of your paragraph 2). However, my paragraph 4 above explains what the Home Office require- ment will be.
7. Your paragraph 4. If "they"
in the sixth line refers to the Hong Kong authorities, as I have explained in paragraph 2, it will be the UK Act which grants or deprives people of citizenship, not a particular territory. The short answer is that it will indeed be possible for someone to acquire both British citizenship and
" colonial" citizenship by virtue of both the transitional and the permanent provisions of the Act. If acquired involuntarily (e.g. at time of birth), it is not proposed to take any action. It has not yet been finally determined whether a British Citizen who voluntarily acquires "colonial" citizenship (or vice versa) by means of naturalisation, should be deprived of his other citizenship.
8.
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we
The Home Secretary has promised a White Paper " during 1980" The reference to "this Parliamentary session' was to a Bill can confirm that no Bill will be presented during this session.
26 February 1980
cc Mr Snodgrass
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Mr B Holmes Mr Payne MCD
Mr Fearn
Mr Daunt
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SPD WIAD
SAMD SED
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my
A VE Gray
Nationality and Treaty Department